The 76ers went through practice on Monday, searching for the answers to help stop a two-game losing streak and losses in five of their last six games. Head Coach Randy Ayers was encouraged to get the services of Kenny Thomas back on the practice floor, but that was before the Sixers were handed the bad news about Allen Iverson?s sprained right finger. The All-Star guard will be sidelined for at least two games, beginning with Tuesday?s game against New Jersey.
?I think you have to be accountable on both ends of the floor,? Ayers said. ?I don?t care what your strength is, you have to be accountable on both ends. We want to start with our defense. We are a much better team when we can create off our defensive effort. That?s what we?ve got to have. I do think all teams can have a defensive mindset regardless if that?s what you do extremely well. You don?t have to be a great defensive team to be a good defensive team.?
The Sixers will look to right the ship against a Nets team that will be coping with its own problems. Head Coach Byron Scott was replaced by Lawrence Frank on Monday. That news did not seem to phase Eric Snow who was wary that it may even help New Jersey.
?It will be tougher for us because they?ll come out and they?ll play harder and they?re going to play better,? Snow said. ?Maybe it was something that is wanted, I don?t know. Maybe it gives them extra energy. They can come out and establish a new identity basically it could be like a breath of fresh air if the majority is happy with the decision (of Scott being fired).?
?Any time you play with the people that (New Jersey has), you have to come out and be ready to play from the start,? Ayers commented. ?Jason (Kidd) forces the issue on you. You have to be ready to play because he makes everybody come up to his level.?
Regardless, Philadelphia, who beat the Nets on Jan. 9, 97-81, without a suspended Kenyon Martin and who have taken four of the last regular season meetings, will at least see the return of Thomas. Thomas missed most of the Orlando game and the Cleveland game with a left corneal abraision.
?I am playing (against the Nets). I couldn?t practice yesterday to the point where the doctor said it had to heal,? Thomas said. ?If I had gotten hit again, my lens could have gotten wrinkled again because I had that lasik surgery (previously).?
Thomas is the Sixers leading rebounder, grabbing 9.3 rebounds per game, plus he contributes a third-best 11.3 points per game.
?To me (Thomas) is one of the best rebounders in the league,? Ayers said. ?He?s got energy. He can run the floor. I think when you are playing a New Jersey with the forwards that they have, that are so athletic and active, I think you need a guy like Kenny out on the floor. Plus, it allows Amal (McCaskill) and Samuel (Dalembert) to go back to better match-ups for them.?
The 76ers have spent the last two practices working on communication on the defensive end.
?A lot of the things that can be corrected, can be corrected just by guys talking to each other, helping each other. That?s one thing, Coach has focused on the last two practices. Make sure that we talk, communicate and help each other.?
?I think if we can communicate like we know we can on defense then that will set the tone,? Thomas said. ?It?s getting there. It?s not where I think it should be yet.?
?I think you have to be accountable on both ends of the floor,? Ayers said. ?I don?t care what your strength is, you have to be accountable on both ends. We want to start with our defense. We are a much better team when we can create off our defensive effort. That?s what we?ve got to have. I do think all teams can have a defensive mindset regardless if that?s what you do extremely well. You don?t have to be a great defensive team to be a good defensive team.?
The Sixers will look to right the ship against a Nets team that will be coping with its own problems. Head Coach Byron Scott was replaced by Lawrence Frank on Monday. That news did not seem to phase Eric Snow who was wary that it may even help New Jersey.
?It will be tougher for us because they?ll come out and they?ll play harder and they?re going to play better,? Snow said. ?Maybe it was something that is wanted, I don?t know. Maybe it gives them extra energy. They can come out and establish a new identity basically it could be like a breath of fresh air if the majority is happy with the decision (of Scott being fired).?
?Any time you play with the people that (New Jersey has), you have to come out and be ready to play from the start,? Ayers commented. ?Jason (Kidd) forces the issue on you. You have to be ready to play because he makes everybody come up to his level.?
Regardless, Philadelphia, who beat the Nets on Jan. 9, 97-81, without a suspended Kenyon Martin and who have taken four of the last regular season meetings, will at least see the return of Thomas. Thomas missed most of the Orlando game and the Cleveland game with a left corneal abraision.
?I am playing (against the Nets). I couldn?t practice yesterday to the point where the doctor said it had to heal,? Thomas said. ?If I had gotten hit again, my lens could have gotten wrinkled again because I had that lasik surgery (previously).?
Thomas is the Sixers leading rebounder, grabbing 9.3 rebounds per game, plus he contributes a third-best 11.3 points per game.
?To me (Thomas) is one of the best rebounders in the league,? Ayers said. ?He?s got energy. He can run the floor. I think when you are playing a New Jersey with the forwards that they have, that are so athletic and active, I think you need a guy like Kenny out on the floor. Plus, it allows Amal (McCaskill) and Samuel (Dalembert) to go back to better match-ups for them.?
The 76ers have spent the last two practices working on communication on the defensive end.
?A lot of the things that can be corrected, can be corrected just by guys talking to each other, helping each other. That?s one thing, Coach has focused on the last two practices. Make sure that we talk, communicate and help each other.?
?I think if we can communicate like we know we can on defense then that will set the tone,? Thomas said. ?It?s getting there. It?s not where I think it should be yet.?
